Charu Mathur: So as I understand, this nine-judge Bench is only hearing the reference questions?

Prashant Padmanabhan: Yes

Charu Mathur: And thereafter, it will go to the Bench which will hear the review petition—The pending review petitions.

Prashant Padmanabhan: That’s the understanding as of today unless the nine-judge Bench is hearing that and deciding something else. As of date, the understanding is that the nine-judge Bench will lay down answers to all these questions and then all these smaller Benches will be bound by that, and even that review which is in the Sabarimala case and the other pending issues will all be decided in the light of those answers.

Charu Mathur: But review petition, as the practice is, will go to the judges who have heard this, except those who have retired.

Prashant Padmanabhan: Yes.